Research Program Leader, Deputy Chair Academic Board
Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Allied HealthHS2-549, Melbourne (Bundoora)
BA (hons) MSW, PHD
AASW, IASSID, ASID
Social Work
Professor Christine Bigby has an established national and international reputation for her research on the social inclusion of adults with intellectual disability. The focus of her work is policy issues, program effectiveness and front line practice that supports quality of life outcomes for people with intellectual disability. Her current ARC and other grants are examining the effectiveness of supported accommodation services, the nature and meaning of social inclusion for people with intellectual disability, the history of self advocacy, and the capacity of disability and mainstream organisations to support active and healthy aging for people with a lifelong disability. She is a Fellow of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability and Chair of the IASSID Special Interest Group on Ageing and Intellectual Disability, a National Board member of ASID – Research to Practice,Editor of Australian Social Work, and a Fellow of the Australian College of Social Work. She convenes an annual Round Table on Intellectual Disability Policy at LaTrobe. She has published 5 books and more than 50 peer reviewed journal articles.
In March 2012 Professor Bigby was elected Deputy Chair of Academic Board.
NEW Public Lecture What might the NDIS learn from the Swedish Welfare System - Prof Magnus Tideman click for recording and for powerpoint slides and on ITunes U
NEW Publication Proceedings of the 7th Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy.
NEW Publication. Final report of the evaluation of the closure of Kew Residential Services.
New Publication - Resource about Aging for For Group Homes
NEW Publication Proceedings of the 6th Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy.
- Self advocacy and participation
- Disability Policy, Deinstitutionalisation
- Ageing of people with life long disability
- Intellectual disability, policy, programs and practice to support social inclusion
SWP5FPB Social Work Fields of Practice B
SWP5FPC Social Work Fields of Practice C
Disability policy, programs and practice
Books
Bigby, C & Frawley (2010). Social work and intellectual disability: Working for change. London: Palgrave MacMillan - Flyer [PDF 259KB]
Clement, T. & Bigby, C. (2010). Group Homes for People with Intellectual Disabilities Encouraging Inclusion and Participation. London, Jessica Kingsley. - Flyer [PDF 366KB]
Bigby, C., Fyffe, C., Ozanne, E. (2007) Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioners. London: Jessica Kingsley
Bigby, C. (2004). Aging with a lifelong disability: Policy, program and practice issues for professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Bigby, C. (2000). Moving on without parents: Planning, transitions and sources of support for older adults with intellectual disabilities. New South Wales/ Baltimore: Mclennan+Petty/ P H Brookes.
Book Chapters
Bigby, C. ( 2012). Piecing together the experiences of older people with intellectual disability: Qualitative research ideas. In M. Leontowitsch, Researching later life and aging. London: Palgrave
Bigby, C. (2012). I hope he dies before me. Unravelling debates about aging with intellectual disability. In, Watson N, Roulstone A and Thomas C (eds). Routledge Companion to Disability Studies. London, Routledge
Bigby, C. (2010). Growing old: Adapting to change and maintaining a sense of belonging, continuity and purpose. In Grant, G., Richardson, M & Murphy, J. Learning Disability: A lifecycle approach to valuing people (445-458) Second Edition. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Bigby, C (2009). Intellectual Disability. In H Cleak (Ed). Assessment and reporting writing for human service professionals (pp. 85-98). Cengage: Melbourne.
Bowers, B., Bigby, C., Webber, R. (2009). Intellectual disability and ageing . In Nay, R & Garrat, S., Iinterdisciplinary care of older people: issues and innovation (pp. 60-77). Sydney: Elsevier
Swain, P., & Bigby, C. (2009). Social security and welfare rights. In P. Swain. In the shadow of the law (339-359). Sydney: Federation Press
Bigby, C. (2007). Case management with people with intellectual disability; Purpose, tensions, challenges. In, Bigby, C, Fyffe C & Ozanne, E. Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioners (pp. 29-47), London: Jessica Kingsley
Burgen, B & Bigby, C (2007). The importance of friendships for young people with intellectual disability In, Bigby, C, Fyffe C & Ozanne, E. Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioners (pp.208-214). London: Jessica Kingsley
Bigby, C. (2007). Issues of middle age and beyond for people with intellectual disability and their families. In, Bigby, C, Fyffe C & Ozanne, E. Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioner (pp.215-232). London: Jessica Kingsley
Bigby, C., Fyffe, C., Ozanne, E. (2007). Introduction: Contexts, structures and processes of case management. In, Bigby, C, Fyffe C & Ozanne, E. Planning and support for people with intellectual disability. Issues for case managers and other practitioners (pp.17-27). London: Jessica Kingsley
Bigby, C. (2007). Aging with an intellectual disability. In I. Brown & M. Percy (Eds.), A comprehensive guide to intellectual and developmental disabilities (pp. 607-616). Baltimore: Brookes Publishing Company.
Bigby , C (2005). The impact of policy tensions and organizational demands on the process of moving out of an institution. In. K. Johnson & Rannveig Traustadóttir, In and out of institutions (117-129). London: Jessica Kingsley.
Bigby, C. (2005). Growing old: Adapting to change and maintaining a sense of belonging, continuity and purpose. In Grant, G., Richardson, M & Murphy, J. Learning Disability: A lifecycle approach to valuing people (663-684). Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Refereed Journal Articles
Vizel, I., Bigby, C., Carling Jenkins, R. (in press) ‘Do you think I’m stupid?: Urban encounters between people with and without intellectual disability. Urban Studies
Clement, T., & Bigby, C (in press). Ethical challenges in researching in group homes for people with severe learning difficulties: Shifting the balance of power. Disability and Society
Bigby, C., Frawley, P., Ramcharan, P. (in press). Conceptualising inclusive research with people with intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability.
Mansell., J., Beadle-Brown, J., & Bigby, C. (in press) Implementation of active support in Victoria, Australia: an exploratory study. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Bigby, C., Frawley, P., Ramcharan, P. (in press). A collaborative group a method of inclusive research: 'That’s how you get things done by working together. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability
Johnson, H., Douglas, J., Bigby, C., Iacono, T (2012). A model of processes that underpin positive relationships for adults with severe intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 37, 4, pp. 324–336.
Stancliffe, R., Wilson, N.,Bigby, C., Balandin, S., Craig, D. (in press). Responsiveness to self-report questions about loneliness: A comparison of mainstream and intellectual-disability-specific instruments. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.
Bigby, C., Knox, M., Beadle-Brown, J., Clement, T., Mansell., J (2012) Uncovering dimensions of informal culture in underperforming group homes for people with severe intellectual disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 50(6):452-467
Bigby, C., (2012). Social inclusion and people with challenging behavior: a systematic review. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 37, 4, 360–374.
Clement, T., & Bigby, C. (2012). Competencies of frontline managers of supported accommodation services: Issues for practice and future research. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37,131-140
Johnson, H., Douglas, J., Bigby, C., Iacono, T (2012) Social interaction with adults with severe intellectual disability: Having fun and hanging out. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability 25, 329-341
Carling-Jenkins, R., Torr, J., Iacono, T, Bigby, C. (2012) Supporting people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease in aged care and family environments. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 37,1,1-23
Johnson, H., Douglas, J., Bigby, C., Iacono, T (2011) Creating meaningful theory: Learning through observing everyday interactions Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 27, 4, 267-278
Bigby, C., & Vizel, I (2011) Encounter as a dimension of social inclusion for people with intellectual disability: Beyond and between community presence and participation. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 36, 4
Bigby, C., Wilson, N., Balandin, S., Stancliffe, R. (2011). Disconnected Expectations: Staff, family and supported employee perspectives about retirement. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 36, 3, 167-174
Bigby, C., Bowers, B., & Webber, R. (2011). Planning and decision making about the future care of older group home residents and transition to residential aged care. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 55,8, 777-789 Frawley, P., & Bigby, C. (2011) Inclusion in political and public life: The experiences of people with intellectual disability on government disability advisory bodies in Australia. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36, 1, 27-38
Clement, T., & Bigby, C. (2011). The development and utility of a program theory: Lessons from an evaluation of a reputed exemplary residential support service for adults with severe intellectual disability and challenging behaviour in Victoria, Australia. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability, 24,6 554-565
Frawley, P., & Bigby, C. (2011) Inclusion in political and public life: The experiences of people with intellectual disability on government disability advisory bodies in Australia. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36, 1, 27-38
Wilson, N. J., Stancliffe, R. J., Bigby, C., Balandin, S., & Craig, D. (2010). The potential for active mentoring to support a positive transition into retirement for older adults with a lifelong disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability. 35, 3, 211-214
Webber, R., Bowers, B., Bigby, C. (2010). Hospital experiences of older people with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 35, 3, 155-164
Bigby, C., & Atkinson, D. (2010). Written out of history: Invisible women in intellectual disability social work. Australian Social Work, 63, 4-17
Bigby, C. (2010). A five country comparative review of accommodation support policies for older people with intellectual disability. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disability. 7, 3-15
Johhson, H., Douglas, J., Bigby, C., Iacono, T. (2010). The pearl in the middle. A case study of social interactions with an individual with a severe intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 35, 3, 175-186
Johnson, H; Douglas, J; Bigby, C; Iacono, T (2009). Maximising community inclusion through mainstream communication services for adults with severe disabilities. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 11, 80-90.
Bigby, C., & Knox, M. (2009) ‘I want to see the Queen’, The service experiences of older adults with intellectual disability. Australian Social Work 62, 2, 216-231
Bigby, C., Clement, T., Mansell, J., Beadle-Brown, J. (2009 ) ‘It’s pretty hard with our ones, they can’t talk, the more able bodied can participate’: Staff attitudes about the applicability of disability policies to people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 54, 4, 363-376
Clement, T., & Bigby, C. (2009) Breaking out of a distinct social space: Reflections on supporting community participation for people with severe and profound intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disability, 22, 264-275
Bigby, C., & Fyffe, C. (2009) A position statement on housing and support for people with intellectual disability and high, complex or changing needs. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 34, 96-100
Buys., L., Boulton-Lewis, G., Tedman-Jones, J., Edwards, H., Knox, M., Bigby, C. (2008). Issues of active ageing: Perceptions of older people with lifelong intellectual disability. Australasian Journal of Ageing 27 (2) 67-71.
Bigby, C., Webber., R., McKenzie-Green, B., Bowes., B (2008). A survey of people with intellectual disabilities living in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 52, 404-414
Bigby, C. (2008). Known well by no one. Trends of the informal social networks of people with intellectual disability five years after moving to the community. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 33, (2) 148-157.
Bigby, C. (2008). Beset by obstacles: A review of Australian policy development to support aging in place for people with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 33 (1), 1-11.
Knox, M & Bigby, C. (2007). Moving towards midlife care as negotiated family business: Accounts of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education 54, 3
Bigby , C. (2007). The challenge of implementing state disability policy to achieve second generation rights for people with disabilities. Just Policy, 43, 68-75
Bigby, C., & Fyffe, C. (2006) Tensions between institutional closure and deinstitutionalization: What can be learned from Victoria’s institutional redevelopment. Disability and Society, 21, 6, 567 - 581
Bigby, C (2006). Shifting models of welfare: Issues in the relocation from an institution and the organisation of community living. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disability, 3, 147-154.
See CV for earlier publications
Government Reports
History of Kew Cottages interactive website
Proceedings of the 6th (2011) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy.
Proceedings of the 5th (2010) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy
Proceedings of the 4th (2009) Annual Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy
Proceedings of the 3rd (2008) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy
Proceedings of the 2nd (2007) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy
Proceedings of the 1st (2006) Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy
Clement, T., & Bigby, C. (2009). An evaluation of a reputed exemplary residential support service for people with severe intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. Office of the Senior Practitioner, Melbourne.
Reports from the Making Life Good Project
Other Deinstitutionalisation studies
Reports on Aging and Life Long Disability
Bigby, C. Enabling Engagement and Inclusion for residents in supported accommodation in Victoria: A longitudinal study of active support and practice leadership. Industry Partners. Yooralla, Jewish Care, Golden City Support Services, annecto, Karingal, Endeavour, Greystanes, Sunshine Homes 2012-2016
Bigby, C., Johnson, H., Douglas, Iacono, T Improving Staff Capacity to Form and Facilitate Relationships for People with Severe Intellectual Disability: Translating a thoerectial model into an evidence based intervention National Disability Research and Development Grants. 2013-2014
Bigby, C., & Beadle-Brown, J. Optimising Outcomes in Supported Living for People with Intellectual Disability. National Disability Research and Development Grants. 2013-2014
Frawley, P., & Bigby, C. (2012) ‘Adopting a mainstream approach: Effective violence and abuse prevention strategies for people with an intellectual disability. Vic Health 2011 Innovation Grant. ($200,000)
Bigby, C., & Frawley, P (2012) ‘Cultures of respect in group homes’ Disability Donations Trust. ($50,000)
Bigby, C., Vizel, I., Mansell, J & Beadle Brown, J. Understanding 'encounter' as a dimension of social inclusion for people with intellectual disability". ARC Linkage 2011-2013
Webber, R., Bigby,C, Bowers, B. Increasing organisational capacity of community residential units to facilitate ageing in place for people with intellectual disability ARC Linkage 2010-2012
Bigby, C & Ramcharan, P. Self Advocacy and Inclusion: What can be learned from Speaking Up. ARC Linkage $177,000 plus $135,000 cash industry partners 2009-2012
Bigby, C., Beadle-Brown, J. Mansell., J. Understanding organisational factors that impact on person centred practice and quality of life outcomes for residents with complex needs. DHS Office of the Senior Practitioner, 2009-2012
Bigby, C., Knox; M, Mansell, J, & Beadle-Brown, J. Realising an 'ordinary life' for people with intellectual disabilities: Developing a theoretical framework for group home outcomes. ARC Discovery 2009- 2012
Stancliffe, R., Bigby, C., Balandin, S. Transition to retirement by adults with chronic disabilities: increasing community capacity. ARC Linkage, 2009-2011, 336,000
Carling- Jenkins, R., Icono, T, Torr, J, Bigby, C. Alzheimer’s Disease in people with down syndrome: Developing a model of care. Alzheimers Dementia Research Program. 2009